Biggest win of the season (so far)...

by Andrew Feinstein on Mar 25, 2009 4:08 PM MDT

Nuggets/Hornets Recap...

I don't know what George Karl said to his undermanned Nuggets in advance of tonight's game in New Orleans, but maybe (and this would be uncharacteristic of Karl) he told them that some games are, in fact, more important than others. Because the Nuggets came out of the gate with a great effort, never relented and pulled off their biggest win of the season.

In what has been a season chock full of bi-polar performances from our Nuggets, the one thing we hadn't seen yet was a definitive road win against a top Western Conference team. Unlike other Nuggets' road games against the west's elite, tonight they never had to climb back from a big deficit or forgot to take the ball to the hole or had long defensive lapses that we've unfortunately become used to. In fact, prior to tonight's victory, the Nuggets had won just two games on the road against a top-nine Western Conference team.

With the exception of the win over the Lakers in Denver a while back, I don't remember a more complete defensive effort from the entire Nuggets team against a tough opponent. And even though we didn't get the Chris Andersen stat line I was jokingly hoping for in my game preview, I'll happily take his nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks, two steals and half court stare down at Hornets owner (and all-time hypocrite) George Shinn after blocking David West twice and helping to secure the Nuggets victory.

What began as the most important game of the season finished as the best game of the season. And for that, both Karl and the Nuggets players deserve our congratulations and a momentary sigh of relief.

Nuggets/Hornets Preview...

You read that headline correct; tonight's game against the Hornets is the most important game of the season (so far) for our Nuggets...and Nene won't be playing in it. The NBA just announced that Nene has been suspended for two games for head butting the Suns' Louis Amundson on Monday night and then making contact with an official. The suspension shouldn't be surprising to any of us, but makes the NBA's two-game suspension of Zach Randolph for punching Amundson in the face a month ago even more perplexing. Being a non-repeat offender, Nene should have gotten a one-game suspension, tops.

As the Western Conference playoff positioning shakes out over the next few weeks, there will be other games that become more important than tonight's contest in the Big Easy. But as of right now - Nene or no Nene - it's imperative that the Nuggets beat the Hornets if they hope to have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Because as Nuggetsadamus predicted last week, it's likely that the Nuggets and Hornets will end up with the exact same record at season's end. If the Hornets end up as the victor of tonight's game, they would get that tiebreaker. If the Nuggets win, they'd tie up the season series at two wins apiece, and the next tiebreaker would be conference record, which the Nuggets likely will have over the Hornets by a game.

After this game is over, I hope I'll be writing about the 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots Chris Andersen laid on his former teammates while filling in for Nene and leading the Nuggets to victory. Because that's the type of game we're going to need from the Birdman to keep the Nuggets hopes of home court alive.

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I couldnt agree with andrew more that this is the most important game of the season, but for another reason. This team could slump again and they cant afford it. I think they should start Chauncey, JR, Melo, Balkman and Kmart. I'd put Jr on Paul to start the game because as of late JR (Kobe) has been great on Defense against some of the leagues pestiest gaurds. He's taller and has the wing span to force Paul around a little further in time for the help to come.

NENE IS GETTING THE SHAFT!!!!!!

I like all the talk about Jeff Van Gundy this and that. Personally he's by far my choice for replacing Karl. He has a no nonsense, but I'll stick up for his players approach. I love that.

NENE IS GETTING THE SHAFT!!!!!!!

How about when Grant Hill is standing on the baseline to save the ball to Shaq for the go ahead two. oh yeah Rodney Mott swallowed his whistle.

NENE IS GETTING THE SHAFT!!!!!!

Well go NUGGETS tonight and Friday, if not for us for NENE.

by 1NUGS1 on Mar 25, 2009 4:47 PM MDT reply actions

We'll see the real Nuggets tonight, for better or worse. Are they gonna step up or punk out?

We'll also see who the real leaders of the team are: Chauncy, Melo, you listening to me? Or is it gonna be Smith/Balkman/Birdman?

We'll see.

by Anonymous on Mar 25, 2009 5:18 PM MDT reply actions

One thing's for sure, it sure as hell isn't gonna be Kleiza.

by Anonymous on Mar 25, 2009 5:19 PM MDT reply actions

you anonymous bloggers are wannabes. I hope andrew takes the anon option out soon.

by 1NUGS1 on Mar 25, 2009 7:19 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah NUGS, an Anonymous poster says something you don't agree with, and you wine about it. You're just sore 'cause nobody commented on your lame-ass post yet.

In real news, the bench has been outplayed in the first half tonight, didn't think that would happen against the Chandler-less Hornets.

by Anonymous on Mar 25, 2009 7:46 PM MDT reply actions

Crooked boy Stu made his move on the Nuggets again. He's a hater man! We should be lucky Nene didn't get 15 games or so. I've had it with the NBA head office dissin' players with braids. That's why Melo cut his.

I don't see why Nene should even get a 1-game suspension. That pisshead flopped to the floor big time. He made Ginobili a saint.

by Geerten on Mar 25, 2009 8:46 PM MDT reply actions

Ummm... we kicked butt! Noyce!

by Eric K on Mar 25, 2009 9:00 PM MDT reply actions

Lets Go NUH-Gets! BOOM BOOM BOMBOM BOOM!!!!

by luvnuggs on Mar 25, 2009 11:13 PM MDT reply actions

New drinking game, take a shot every time Marlowe or Hastings calls Stafford out for a bad call.

Good game all all around. Props to the nugs for not getting too frustrated from the crappy officiating. Dahntay Jones lost his head a little bit, but he was getting ripped off by the refs.

Mordecai

by Anonymous on Mar 25, 2009 11:36 PM MDT reply actions

also, did anyone else catch Marlowe saying that the Nuggets dancers beat the Grizzles dances because they looked like a bunch of grizzlies if you know what I mean. Priceless
Mordecai

by Anonymous on Mar 26, 2009 12:08 AM MDT reply actions

This was a must-win game for us. I'm stunned that they done it without Nene though. I was only too happy to eat my words as you can imagine, also, it shows how good this team actually is now, because how often do we win by that much when Melo shoots 10-24?

by Jack on Mar 26, 2009 1:53 AM MDT reply actions

Great win, definitely needed, but don't get it twisted, that was without Chandler and Peja who are both starters. Still, I'll take it any day. Nice to see Melo and Chauncy have great games together, if they can both play like that all the time we will be even more dangerous in the playoffs than a lot of people think. The refing was absolutely atrocious tonight though, I really couldn't believe my eyes on a few of the calls (both on Birdman).
Anyways, good win, hopefully we can do some damage in Dallas and come out of this trip with a winning record. George probably never thought it possible!

by Goldennugget on Mar 26, 2009 2:33 AM MDT reply actions

Wow, could hardly believe we actually won this one, I don't know if I can remember the last time CB, Melo and JR all had a solid game on the road. Still, 14 assists, c'mon guys that isn't going to win a series.

Don't know if any of you are Hollinger PER fans but some interesting info about Balkman and Birdman on his list. Basically saying what everyone in Denver except for Karl seems to know, these guys need major minutes.

I've always been more of a win despite the refs guy but the amount of stuff going against the Nuggets is ridiculous. Anyone see Paul ram Anderson sideways last night and send him halfway across the court and foul on Bird? Add Nene's suspension and Melo getting beat to death every night, well, I'm ready to sign a petition. Actually I'd like to see Karl lose it a little more often. Now is the time.

Right now I'm starting to believe we could actually win a series, maybe two depending on the matchup. I really liked our defense. YEAH NUGS!

by NugzD on Mar 26, 2009 8:37 AM MDT reply actions

And the refs just called another foul on the player guarding Chris Paul. On one of them he was going to the basket, had a layup and jumped back away from the basket putting his shoulder into Birdmans stomach. Foul on Birdman. If Melo does the same thing, and about half the things CP does, he gets an offensive foul.

How great was Melo denying CP the ball in the backcourt, then getting the offensive foul, and laying on the court laughing?

by KarlSucks on Mar 26, 2009 8:59 AM MDT reply actions

FYI the George Shinn link in Andrew's game recap is fairly NSFW.

by MJKeenan on Mar 26, 2009 9:02 AM MDT reply actions

Great game.

Hopefully we will have enough left in the tank for the next two. Nene coming back with fresh legs against the Warriors could actually turn out to be a blessing if we are victorious over the Mav's on Friday night.

by JTR on Mar 26, 2009 9:34 AM MDT reply actions

Did anyone else notice who other then stafford was reffing that game? It was our former #1 stiff BENNET SALVATORE, no wonder CP got all the calls!!!!!!!!!

by 1NUGS1 on Mar 26, 2009 10:42 AM MDT reply actions

i have been thinking about this... camby leaves and the nuggets get all freaked out and play some serious defense at the begining of the year. THEN - they get comfortable with nene doing the defensive chores and the defense goes to shit. NOW - nene is out and they are all freaked out again SO they are playing defense (it was a joy to watch last night...). NOW - this is what we need to do...

SPUD WEBB -

we need to get rid of nene and sign spud. he could play center. the other 4 would get so freaked out that they would play their ever lovin' asses off!

can someone get me rex chapman's phone number?

by SpokenWar on Mar 26, 2009 11:10 AM MDT reply actions

We had some bad calls last night indeed, but has anyone noticed how big of a whiner Scott Hastings has become about every little foul possible? I think even Marlowe tuned him out for a moment last night. I actually like the gumpy guy from Arkansas but damn, he needs to focus on the holistic game as a whole, not just nit pick every foul which we know not even the best ref will ever get right 100% of the time.

by Eric K on Mar 26, 2009 12:30 PM MDT reply actions

Marlowe is a jerk, Hasting on the other hand has as much passion for the Nuggets as we do. He's played the game, might not have done all that great but he has passion for the Nuggets. With all the infractions that happen in a game he is straight up and tells you that if you call it on one team you call it on the other. Most of the time they call it on the Nuggets and the other team gets away with it. That's bullshit to me also. David Stern and his storm troopers should be on the Stiff's list also.

by samiam on Mar 26, 2009 12:54 PM MDT reply actions

Hastings is an idiot,i liked bill hanzlik better,him and marlowe made a great duo.
Andrew,do something about it your one of the most powerful nuggets fans.

by Anonymous on Mar 26, 2009 1:03 PM MDT reply actions

Stern and his storm troopers- CLASSIC. (I'm stealing that moniker BTW)

I think Hastings has just gotten tired of SEEING the same thing we see, and that is that the refs turn a blind eye to opposing teams. Either that or they just hold the Nuggets team under a microscope.

I wonder if the refs call fouls on the Nuggets even when they're not playing? It's almost perfunctory for the "storm troopers" to blow the whistle and say "Offensive foul #15..."

Nene's suspension was/is BS. Kobe/Bron/Wade/or Howard could shoot a gun at an opposing team's bench at mid court and not get called for anything. If they were playing the Nuggets, they'd call a delay of game on the players that scramble from the bench. Yep it's that obvious.

I wonder how long until the Imperial Guards come and shut this site down for heresy.

dun dun dundun dun dundun dun dundun

by Joelsopinion on Mar 26, 2009 1:59 PM MDT reply actions

I know it's part his job and part his passion that we share (which is why I ultimately like him) but I don't want to seem like a whiner. I know he's not a reflection of our team but no matter how bad the calls get against us, I guarantee there's no sort of conspiracy against, of all teams, the Denver Nuggets and the discrepancies we see are based on stupidity rather than conspiracy. Stu doesn't have it out for us, he's just a moron... has been since his days "running" the Raptors and probably before that... running them into the ground that is. The Raps were atrocious until he left. He's a wet douche bag jammed up a ham wallet, who had no qualifications for the role he now serves.

by Eric K on Mar 26, 2009 3:47 PM MDT reply actions

I caught the last part of the game half way thru the third and it has been great seeing the Nuggets dominate the game.
On the other hand Marlowe was such a high pitched boy band screamer while commentating last night, I was embarrassed.

by markp on Mar 26, 2009 8:06 PM MDT reply actions

Re: Marlowe and Hastings

Yes, they're homers. But they're our homers, damn it, and I, uh I, uh . . .

tolerate them.

by JTR on Mar 26, 2009 11:42 PM MDT reply actions

I will take my colorado weather over AZ anyday, stay the fuck in AZ and tell all your friends to to do the same. Your not welcome here in CO.

by Anonymous on Mar 27, 2009 9:26 AM MDT reply actions

JTR. We have no choice but thanks for the tip anyway.

by markp on Mar 27, 2009 7:23 PM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.